LOCAL community groups in Parr are invited to participate in a funding project worth £26,000, which aims to increase opportunities and reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in the area.

Launched by Merseyside Police, St Helens Council, Torus and Riverside Home Ownership, the funding project is being launched at Bold Miners Club, Fleet Lane on Wednesday, September 8 at 6pm.

The aim of the project in Parr is to strengthen community resilience and offer opportunities for young people by supporting local clubs and groups with a share of the funding.

In turn, this can help to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, and support vulnerable members of the community.

The approach is designed to be straightforward and empowering for the community, where local people make decisions together about how the funds will be spent.

Applicants will be supported in putting their bids together, ready for the main event in December when members of the public get to vote for the projects they believe will have the biggest impact in their community.

The funding has been secured by Merseyside Police, St Helens Council and Torus, with a chunk of this sourced from Merseyside Police’s Community Cashback Fund.

This helps fund community projects across Merseyside using cash seized from criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Chief Inspector Paul Holden of the St Helens Community Policing Team, said: “In 2018, we worked with community partners on a similar project named Speke-Up which saw a wide variety of community clubs and groups receive a share of over £40,000 during a two-year period.

“Having seen the difference that initiative made in Speke, I am keen to repeat its success in the St Helens borough, starting in Parr."

More details will be explained at the launch event, which is said to be a “fantastic opportunity” for groups to get involved in positive community work that can create a real boost for Parr.

Inspector Holden added: “Putting community first is part of everything we do in Merseyside Police and projects like this are a great example of how working in partnership can make a real difference to a community.

“It is particularly satisfying knowing that some of the money has come from the Community Cashback Fund and therefore money that has been seized from criminals is being put back into the community.

Councillor Jeanie Bell, St Helens Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Safer, Stronger Communities, said: “With the Speke-Up project going from strength to strength, I’m really excited for community organisations, neighbourhood groups and individuals in Parr to get their chance to shape and fund local initiatives that benefit residents.

“By pooling these resources, opening them up to the network of community-minded people and groups in the area and working together to build stronger communities, we could achieve some truly extraordinary things, so please get involved.”

Jan Calland, Regional Director at Torus added: “Torus is delighted to be able to contribute funding to this important initiative, which will go to worthwhile community-driven projects and activities that have a positive impact on crime and anti-social behaviour, making our communities a better place to live and work.

“We look forward to working with the police and the community to ensure we protect vulnerable people and build community resilience.”